Rail-joint.



No. 645239.V Patented Mar. I3, |906. A

n. v. WALLACE.

RAIL JOINT'.

Application med June 22, 189m g J AIl j L 5 f/ I /ml 0 I 'i lag UNTTED STATES RICHARD VEVERS lVALLACE, OF MARVELL, ARKANSAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part `of Letters Patent No. 645,239, dated March 13, 1900. l.lipplication filed June 22, 1899l v Serial No. 721,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, RIHARD VEvERs WAL- LACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marvell, in the county of Phillips and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to improvements in rail-joints.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of rail-joints and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device adapted to dispense with threaded bolts and nuts and capable of holding the ends of the rails securely in place and of preventing them from spreading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be adapted to be tightened by the passage of a train over it and which will be prevented from becoming uufastened by such means.

The invention consists in the construction and-novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed nut in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a rail-joint constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the bolts. Fig. i is a similar view of one of the blocks which are employed in connection with an ordinary fish-plate. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a continuous block adapted to be used without va fish-plate. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the caps.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 1 designate rails provided in their webs with openings for the reception of bolts 2, which pass through registering openings of 'fish-plates 3 and 4, which are arranged at op posite sides of the rails in the usual manner, as clearly illustrated in Fig.V 2 of the accompanying drawings, and the said bolts are provided between their ends with opposite recesses 5 to reduce their diameter at the webs of the rails to provide for the necessary contraction and expansion of the latter. The

bolts, which are not threaded, are provided fish-plates, and

at one end with a head 6 to engage one of the they have a slotv 7 near the other end to receive 'a vertical key 8, which is slightly tapered, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The key 8, which passes through the slot of the bolt, engages a block 9 and fits in a vertical groove or way 10 thereof, the block being interposed between the key 8 and the adjacent 'fish-plate 3. The block 9, which is provided with a perforation 11 for the reception of the bolt, has an' inclined wall 12 at the bottom of the way 10,which is adapted to tighten the key as it is driven downward, whereby the key, which is wedge-shaped, is adapted to clamp the parts tightly together and form a compact structure. The lower en'd 13 of the key is pointed or tapered, as shown, and the bottom flange of the sh-plate 3 is preferably provided with an opening 14, and when the key is driven down by the means hereinafter described its lower end is upset against the bottom flange of the rail, whereby it is locked in the slot of the bolt. The key is designed to be driven in by a ham mer until its lower end engages the inclined wall at the bottom of the block, and when in this position it holds the fishplates tightly in place and its upper end is lo' cated above the tread of the rail and is adapted to be engaged by the wheels of a train, whereby the wedge is forced downward on the inclined wall 12 and against the bottom of the rail, thereby securing a great degree of tighty ness without any effort on the part of the workmen. The key is provided near its top with a notch 15, adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool to enable it to be readily withdrawn when desired. If desired, a cap or extension 16 may be placed onthe keys before they are driven downward by the weight of a train, so that after they have been operated on by the wheels and the caps removed their upper ends will lie below the plane of the tread of the rails.

The block 9 has its lower edge 17 beveled to conform to the inclination of the bottom flange of the fish-plate and the rail, and it is provided at its inner face with a horizontal recess or cut-away portion 18 to receive the head of the rail.V The vertical groove which intersects the opening or perforation 11 prevents the key and the bolt from rotating.

The block may, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the lower portions of the grooves being provided With inclined Walls 22, adapted to operate similar to the inclined wall 12.

The invention has the following advantages: The device, which is simple and inexpensive in construction, possesses great.

strength and durability and is adapted to be employed in connection with ordinary fishplates, and the block, which is grooved for the reception of the key, can also vbe used Without a fish-plate. The bolts and the keys may be manufactured much cheaper than ordinary bolts and nuts, and they do not necessitate nut -locks or require attention like threaded bolts and nuts. The device permits the expansion and contraction of the rails, and the Weight of a train is utilized for driving, the Wedge-shaped keys in the slots of the bolts. The lower end of the key is adapted to be bent or upset against the bottom of the rail to lock it in position, and it can 4be readily Withdrawn when desired. They key draws theparts tightly together, so that there is no looseness or play to cause any of the parts to Wearwhen vibratcd by a train. The pressure is equal at both ends of the bolts, and the rails are prevented from twisting or spreading and have a uniform expansion. The weight and solidity of the rail-joint are increased by the block, and it is enabled to withstand thestraius and vibrations incident to the passage of a train.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of `construction Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted" to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is l. In a device of the class described, the combination With a rail, a fish-plate arranged at one side of the rail, and a block or plate located atthe opposite side of the rail, of a bolt passing through the said parts and provided at one end with ahead and having a slot at the other end,and v a keypassing-through the slot of the bolt and having itsupper end arranged at the tread ot' the rail, whereby it is adapted to be engaged by thewheels of; a train, substantially asand for the purposedescribed.

2. In a device of the class described,` the combination of a bolt having a slot, a block provided with a lower inclined edge and having a recess at its inner face adjacent to its upper edge to receive the head of a rail, said block being provided with a bolt-opening and having a groove intersecting the same, and a key passing through the slot of the bolt and arranged in the groove of the block, substantially as described. l

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rail, of a bolt passing through the same and provided with a slot, a block arranged on the bolt and having a vertical groove, and a key passing through the slot and arranged in the groove, said key having its upper end arranged to be engaged by the wheels of a train, substantially as described. Y

4. In. al device ofthe class described, the combination with a rail, afish-plate arranged at one side of the rail, and a block located at the opposite side of the rail and provided with a vertical groove having an inclined portion at the bottom, a horizontal bolt passing through the fish-plate, the rail andl the block and provided with a slot., and a` verticallydisposed wedge-shaped key arranged in the groove of thel block and passing throughV the slot, said key being adaptedl to be engaged by the Wheels of a train, whereby its lower end is upset against the bottom of the rail, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rail, iislrplates located at opposite sides of the rail, oneof the fish-plates being provided with slots, blocks mounted on the slotted fish-plates and provided with grooves, horizontal bolts passing throughthe fish-plates, the rail and the blocks, and vertical keys arranged in the grooves of the blocks, passingthrough the slots of the bolts and having their upper ends arranged to be engaged by the wheels of al train,'whereby their lower ends are upset or bent against the bottom of yther-ail, substantially as described.

G. In a device of theclass described, they combination With a rail, and-a bolt having a slot, of a grooved block, and a key arranged in the groove o f theblock and passing through the slot of the bol-t, said key being provided with a removable cap having its top arranged to be engaged by the Wheels of a train, whereby the key is forced into position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD VEVERS VALLAOE.

Witnesses:

'JAMES BOYD SWIFT, JOSEPH D. ONEIL.

IVIO 

